Wicked Torture (Stark World 3)

They're the ones he laughs with now.

I swallow, fighting back another wave of tears. And this time, I'm determined not to cry. Not for him. Not for us.

Because I'm over him. I got over him a long time ago.

That's what I tell myself, anyway. But I know it's bullshit. I'm not over him. I'll probably never be over him.

But I have moved

on. And his sudden appearance is like a rope tied tight around my ankles dragging me back into the past.

"So?" I demand, realizing he never answered my question. "Why are you lurking in alleys?"

He slides both hands through his hair, then interlocks his fingers on top of his head. I've seen him do the same thing hundreds of times, usually in front of a computer when he's frustrated by some uncooperative bit of coding.

Right now, I guess I'm the uncooperative one.

"I wasn't trying to upset you," he says. "Honestly, I thought I was making it easier."

"Easier?" A fresh burst of anger cuts through me, and my brow rises along with my temper. "Easier than what? Than you tossing me aside for another woman? Easier than a punch in the gut? Maybe it's been easy for you, Noah, but you put me through hell."

"I didn't--"

"No." I hold up a hand. "Screw your apologies and your excuses. I'm over it," I say. "Over. Done. All healed up. And you do not--repeat, not--get to just waltz back into my life and send me reeling. This is my town now. My life. And you need to either get the hell out or stay the hell out of my way. Do you under--"

"Kiki?" I hear Cam's voice simultaneously with the squeak of metal hinges. "Hey, are you out here?"

I freeze, and Noah stares at me. I must look spooked, because his brow creases with worry.

What? he mouths.

My brother, I reply, equally silent. They've never met, but of course Cam knows about my past drama with Noah. And right now really isn't the time to bring my brother into the morass of Noah & Kiki: The Sequel.

Thankfully, I see comprehension on Noah's face. He presses his palms to my shoulders and eases me deeper into the shadows, step by step, until we're tucked into one of the indentations made from the intersection of two semi-connected buildings.

"What the hell, Cam?" It's a female voice, and one I don't recognize.

"I heard someone yell, and then I thought I heard my sister. Kiki!" he calls again, and Noah touches his fingertip to my lips, as if I'd be stupid enough to respond.

I want to glare at him, but it's impossible. I can't do anything but stand frozen, hoping he doesn't feel the renewed tension in my body. Hoping that the heat from his finger doesn't singe my lips, and that he can't feel the way my breathing has changed. How I'm suddenly aware of my skin, of his touch.

I swallow, and pray that he thinks my nervousness is because of Cam.

His eyes are locked on mine, and I can see the warning in them. The silent admonishment to remain still, as if we were nothing more than shadows ourselves.

But there's heat there, too. I know him too well not to recognize the tension behind his eyes, and to understand what it means. Memories of long nights and intimate touches. Of soft words and broken promises.

I release a shuddering sigh, a mixture of both longing and regret.

"There's no one out here," the girl says. "And I saw her go out the front, anyway."

"Weird." I can imagine Cam's frown. I can't see his face, but from the shadows, I can see him emerge from behind the open door. His posture is stiff. Worried. There's no reason to be worried, of course, but we've always been close. Our grandmother used to say that except for the ten years between us--and the fact that we're half-siblings--we were practically twins. So his concern doesn't surprise me at all, and I fear that he's going to move further down the alley, checking out the nooks and crannies just to be on the safe side.

"Cam?" I hear Tyree's low, booming voice.

"He's here!" the girl calls, then adds in a lower voice. "Go back in. If it's bugging you so much I'll take a quick look around."

They both step behind the open door and out of my line of sight. There's a low murmur of conversation that I can't hear, and then the door shuts. Cam is gone, but I can see the outline of the girl as she steps away from the door and into the alley.